Railway-switch protector.



PATENTBD MAY 5,1903.

.L. R. BOGERS. RAILWAY SWITCH PROTECTOR. I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903- I L..R. ROGERS. RAILWAY SWITCH PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 20, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

E Q? QWQ PATENTED MAY 5, 1903',

L. R. ROGERS. RAILWAY SWITCH PROTECTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 20, 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3k N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT O ETQE.

LOU R. ROGERS, OF BOONE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B. H. SMITH AND J. M. BOLLINGER, OF BOONE, IOWVA.

RAlLWAY-SVVITCH PROTECTOR.

:EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,990, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed December 20, 1902. Serial No. 136,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/. I

Be it known that I, LOU R. ROGERS, a cilizen of the United States, residing at Boone, in the county of Boone and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a mechanism of durable and inexpensive construction which can be attached readily and easily to the ties of the ordinary railroadtrack and on that portion of the ties which is between the rails in such a' way as to cover the points of the switch, so that dirt, snow, or any foreign substance will be prevented from getting between the points of the switch and the main-track rails.

A further object is to provide a device which will be operated at the same time and by the same lever as the switch-points, so

- that when the switch-points are moved between the main-track rails the protecting mechanism will be operated.

A further object is to provide a device of this class which will prevent cattle or other animals from being caught between the maintrack rail and theswitch-rail adjacent to it, as so often happens. I have also arranged my device so that the mechanism of it is also thoroughly protected against foreign substance clogging this mechanism, and, further, to provide a device which will not in any way interfere with throwing the switch-rails easily.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in perspective the complete device in position for operation between the track-rails. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the switch-point protectors with the switch-rail adjacent to said switch-protector thrown out of engagement with the maintrack rail. In this view the two upper covers of the protector are raised and the lowest of the three covers are shown in dotted lines, so as bring out clearly the mechanism of the interior of the protector by which the covers are operated. I have broken away a portion of the track-rail and the switch-rail adjacent to the one which is away from the protector, above mentioned. Fig. 3 is a front ing device which is designed to be placed between that portion of the switch-rails and the main-track rails which are immediately at the rear of the protector. The device, it will be seen, is so arranged that the sides approach each other as the switch-rail is moved horizontally. On account of the shape of this device the frame of the wheel will not be interfered with as the train passes over the track. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary protector. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operative end of the rod which raises and lowers the edge of the lowest cover in such a way as to throw said edge upwardly and'forwardly over the auxiliary switch-rail and against the main-track rail or throw it upwardly and rearwardly away from the main rail from above the switch rail when the switch mechanism is operated. This view also shows in cross-section the slotted guide whereby this cover is operated. Fig. 8 shows the means for attaching the rear edge of the cover referred to in the description of Fig. 7 in position, so that as the switch-rails are moved horizontally this cover will be allowed to move horizontally also; and Fig. 9 is a protecting-block which may be used between the track-rails at each end of the switch-point protector to prevent its being injured in any way byheavy substancesbeingthrowu against the forward or rear ends of it.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reference-numeral 10 to indicate the ties of the railroad-track, the reference-numeral 11 to indicate one of the trackrails, and the reference-numeral 12 to indicate-the other of said track-rails. I have also used the reference-numeral 13 to indicate the switch-rail which is nearest the track-rail 12 and the reference-numeral 14 to indicate the switchrail which is nearest the track-rail 11.

Connecting these switch-rails 13 and 1a in such a Way that when one switch-rail is moved the other will be moved correspondingly are the connecting-pieces 15. Attached to one of the connecting-pieces 15 is any ordinary switching mechanism 16, so arranged that as the connecting-piece 15 is moved horizontally the switch-rails 13 and 14, which are attached to it, will be correspondingly moved. These switch-rails are so attached to the connecting-pieces 15 thatwhen one of the switchrails is in engagement with the track-rail adjacent to it at the same time the other switch-rail is out of engagement with the track-rail which is nearest to itthat is to say, when the switch-rail 14. is in engagement with the switch-rail 11, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the switch-rail 13 will be away from the track-rail 12 for obvious reasons.

Firmly attached to the switch-rail 13 and immediately above the connecting-piece 15, to which the switching mechanism 16 is attached, I have mounted a metal plate 15, which is more fully referred to hereinafter.

As there are two protectors constructed in exactly the same way, except the parts are arranged in reverse order throughout on account of one of the protectors being attached near the other side of the track, both of said protectors being arranged between the track rails, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, I do not deem it necessary to describe the entire mechanism of both protectors throughout, but will limit myself in the body of the description of one of the protectors, which is shown in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In interpreting the description it is to be understood that there are two protectors between the track-rails and on opposite sides of the track. Referring then to the protector which is shown in Fig. 2, I have used the referencenumeral 17 to indicate a sheet-metal plate which forms the bottom portion of my device and rests upon the ties. In this bottom portion 17 I have provided a series of slots 18, extending from that edge of the bottom portion 17 which is nearest the track-rail. EX- tending upwardly and substantially at right angles to the bottom portion 17 and at its rear edge is the rear side portion 19. At each end of the bottom portion 17 and extending upwardly from it and substantially at right angles to it are the end portions 20 and 21. Said end portions extend from the rear portion 19 to a'point adjacent to the switch-rail. The end portion 21 preferably rests against the main-track rail, as the switch-rail is inside of it. Hinged to the side portion 19 is the cover 22 by the hinges 23. On each end of this cover 22 is a downwardly-projecting flange 24, so arranged that as the cover swings downwardly on its hinges and is in its lowered position the flange 24c will pass outside of the end portions 20 and 21, and thus prevent any substance passing between the flanges 24 and the end portions 20 and 21 and into the mechanism on the interior of the protector. This portion 22 is so hinged that the edge of it nearest the track-rail can be swung upwardly and downwardly as the mechanism is operated.

Mounted on thebottom portion 19 and adjacent to the back portion 20 and near the end 21 is the support 25. Substantially in line with the support 25 and attached to the bottom 17 and substantially midway between the end portions 20 and 21 is the support 26, constructed like the support 25. The supports 25 and 26 are substantially U-shaped and have a flat upper portion for purposes hereinafter made clear.

Pivotally attached to the flat portion ofthe pivot 27 is the lever 28. This lever is substantially L-shaped, and its longest portion extends from its pivotal point of attachment away from the end 21 and the short portion of the L-shaped lever 28 extends from its pivotal point toward the side 19. This short portion 29 is bent a slight distance downwardly and the body of it is slightly lower than the long portion of the L-shaped lever.

Pivotally attached to the upper portion of the U-shaped support 26 is the lever 30, constructed in the same way and in substantially the same shape as the lever 28, the only difference between these levers being that the lever 30 is preferably a little shorter than the lever 28. I have designated the short portion of the lever 30 by the numeral 31.

Hinged to the ends of the levers 28 and 30 which are farthest away from the end 21 of the protector, by means of the hinges 32, is the second cover This cover is designed to be partially beneath the cover 22 when in its normal position above the operative mechanism of my device.

Pivotally connecting the short portions 29 and 31 of the levers 28 and 30 is the connecting-rod 34:. This rod is so constructed that as the lever 28 is moved on its pivot in a horizontal plane the lever 30 will be moved correspondingiy, and as the levers move on their pivots the cover 33 will be moved toward and away from the track-rail. At each end of the cover 33 I have provided the flanges 33 and 33, said flanges being designed to set inside of the flanges 24E of the cover 22 and outside of the ends 20, and these flanges are provided for the same reason as the flanges 24 are provided.

Pivotally connecting the lever 28 and the metal plate 15, which is mounted above connecting-piece 15, to which the switching mechanism is attached, is the rod 35. Said rod 35 is attached to this plate 15 and to the lever 28, so that as the switch-rail is moved away from the track-rail the cover 33 will be moved in the same direction, and as the switch-rail is moved toward the track-rail the cover 33 will be correspondingly moved.

Firmly attached to the upper portion of the bottom 17 is a series of slotted guides 36, 37, and 38. The slotted guide 36 has the slot 39 in it, said slot extending longitudinally of the slotted guide and curving upwardly at that end of the guide which is nearest the trackrail. The slot 40 in the guide 37 is out like the slot 39, except that the curved portion at the end nearest the track-rail is not as sharp as the corresponding portion in the slot 39. The slot 41 in the slotted guide 38 is out like the slot 40, except that the curved portion nearest the track-rail is not as sharp as in the slot 40. The slotted guide 38 is placed slightly nearer the side 19 than is the slotted guide 37, and the slotted guide 37 is placed nearer the side 19 than is the guide 36. I have provided a series of supporting-arms 42, having rollers 43 operatively mounted in the slots of the slotted guides 36, 37, and 38. Firmly attached to the supporting-arms 42 is the third cover 44. It might be said in this connection that the covers 22 and 33 are sub stantially flat throughout their entire length and are constructed of some thin material. The only portion of these covers which is not perfectly flat are the flanges at each end thereof, and these flanges extend substantially at right angles to the body portion and downwardly therefrom.

The cover 44, which is supported by the supporting-arms 42, to which it is attached,is substantially fiat throughout a portion of its width; but the edge of said cover 44 which is nearest the track-rail is bent downwardly and then upwardly, so that a substantially semicircular groove is formed in this edge of the cover which is nearest the track-rail. This semicircular portion of the cover 44 is designed to fit between the main-track rail and the switch-rail when the switch-rail is away from the track-rail,and when the switchrail is moved against the track-rail the semicircular port-ion of the cover 44 will be moved rearwardly and inside of the switch-rail. will be seen that on account of the way in which the supporting-arms 42 are mounted in the slotted guides 36, 37, and 38 the cover will be allowed to move forwardly and rearwardly and on account of the slots 39, 40, and 41 being curved upwardly at that portion which is nearest the track-rails the edge of the cover 44 which is nearest the track-rail will be allowed to drop a slight distance downwardly into position between the main-track rail and the switch-rail when the cover 44is moved into position by the vmechanism hereinafter described.

Firmly attached to the bottom 17 and near the end 21 of the protector I have provided a slotted guide 45, the slot 46 extending longitudinally of said guide and the portion of said slot which is away from the switch-rail being higher than the portion of the slot which is nearest the switch-rail in this slot is substantially semicircular in shape. At the opposite end of said protector and near the portion 20 I have mounted the support 47. Mounted in the support 47 in such a way as to prevent longitudinal movement of the protector is the operating-shaft 48, extending longitudinally of the protector. At the opposite end of the shaft from that which is mounted in the support 47 I have provided the crank portion 49, said crank portion hearing a, roller 50 and said roller being operatively mounted in the slot 46, which is in the slotted guide 45. This operating-shaft 48 passes through a groove'51 in the metal plate 15, which is attached to the switch-rail 15. The shaft 48 is held in said groove 51 by means of the metal plate 52, so that as the switch-rails, the connecting-pieces 15, and the metal plate 15 are moved horizontally the end of the shaft 48 which is nearest the slotted guide 45 will swing toward and away from the track-rail, and on account of the way in which the shaft 48 is mounted in the support 47 a free movement of said shaft is permitted. Extending upwardly from the shaft 48 and substantially at right angles to it is a series of hinged supports 53.

Hinged to each of said supports 53 is the mating portion 54 of the support 53. This mating portion 54 is firmly attached tothe cover 44 on its under surface. The hinge, which is between the support 53 and its mating portion 54, is so arranged that the mating portion 54 can be swung upwardly and rearwardly from its normal position; but it can be swung downwardly and forwardly. The

shaft 48 is mounted in front of the arms 42,

so that the mating portions 54 of the supports 53 are attached to the cover 44 at a point nearer the track-rail than are the arms 42, so that when the edge of theicover 44 which is nearest the track-rail is swung upwardlyby means of operating the switching mechanism the rear end will be held at its normal position throughout part of the movement of the cover than when the cover 44 reaches its outer limit of movement away from the protector .and the switch-rail 13 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The rollers on the arms 42 will move in the slots 39, 40, and 41, and as these slots extend upwardly at that portion of them which is nearest the track-rail the end of the cover which is nearest the track-rail will drop downwardly, and the semicircular portion of said cover 44 will take a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As the switch-rail is moved in the opposite direction the reverse movement of the cover 44 and its attachments will 7 be accomplished. It will be seen that on account of the way which theslot 46 is made in the slotted guide 45 as the end of the shaft 40 which is nearest said slotted guide is moved toward and away from the trackrail the edge of the cover 44 which is near the movement of the arms 42, and thus accomplish the desired result of having the plate moved outwardly and upwardly at the. same time and then allowed to drop into its beneath the cover 33 when the switch-rail is in engagement with the track-rail, the edge of the cover 44 which isneare st the track-rails moving upwardly and downwardly, as is necessary in operating the cover 44.

Attached to the side 19 is the spring supporting-arm 55,having the spring 56 mounted thereon. At the end of the spring supporting-arm which is away from the side 19 is the slotted projection 57, said slotted projection 57 being designed to admit through its slotted portion the slidingly-mounted rod 58, having a slotted projection 59 on that end of it which is nearest the side 19. This slotted projection 59 is designed to fit over the supporting-arm55 and between the spring and the side 19, so that as the slotted projections 57 and 59 are moved toward each other the spring will be compressed. In other words, the spring 56 will have a tendency to constantly force the projections 57 and 59 away from each other. Pivot-ally attached to the opposite end of the rod 58 from that which has the projection 59 on it is the connectinglink 60. Said connecting-link forms a part of the hinge, the other portion 61 of which is firmly attached to the cover. This mechanism, including the hinge, comprises the pertions and 61, the supports 55, and the rod 58, and the spring 56 is designed to more firmly hold the cover 33 against the cover 44, and also to assist in forcing the edge of the cover 33 which is nearest the trackrail firmly against the switch-rail when the switch-rail is in engagement with the track-rail by drawing the edge of thecover 33 nearest the switchrail downwardly and causing said edge to be drawn below the ball of the rail. The position referred to here will be clearly seen on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 of the drawings and also on the same side of Fig. 4 of the drawings, where the switch-rail12 and the cover 33 are forced against the switch-rail 13. The position of these covers relative to each other is best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the positions in said Fig. 4 of the switch-rails being in exactly the opposite position from that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The description of this protector will also apply to the protector which is on the other side of the track-rail from the one described, the only difference between the two being that the parts are reversed on account of their being on opposite sides of the track. It is to be understood that a single movement of the switching mechanism will operate both protectors. In one protector the cover 44 will be over the switch-rail, and in the other protector it will be on the inside of the switch and entirely beneath the cover 33.

In practical use the protectors are placed side by side, substantially between the switchrails and on the inside of the track'rails, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The switchrails are then connected with each other by the connecting-pieces 15, and the shaft 48 adj usted in the slot 51, and the rod 35 attached to the metal plate .15 above the connectingpiece 15, to which the switching mechanism is attached, and said rod being so arranged as to slide longitndinallyof the slot 18 in the bottom 17, the function of this slot being to allow the rod 35 free movement when the switch is operated. Assuming that the covers are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 ofthe drawings-namely, that the switchrail 13 is against the track-rail l2 and that the switch-rail 14 is away from the track 11, and that the cover 44 in the protector on the left side is over the switch-rail 14, as shown in Fig. 4 of'the drawings, and that the cover 44 in the protector on the right side of the device is beneath the cover 33 and on the inside'of the switch-railthen as the switchrail is operated so as to throw the switch-rail 14 against the track-rail 11 and the switchrail 13 away from the track-rail 12 the cover 44, which is in the protector on the left side of the track, will have its edge which is nearest the track-rails swung upwardly a slight distance and the entire cover 44 moved rearwardly as the switch is operated, and the cover 33 above said cover 44 will be thrownagainst the switch-rail l4, and thus prevent any substance getting on the inside of the switch-rail when it is against the track-rail 11. The cover 44, which is in the protector on the right side of the device, will have its forward edge drawn upwardly, and the entire protector 44 will be moved forwardly and over the switchrail 13 as said switch-rail moves away from the track-rai112, and the cover 33 immediately above said cover 44 will be moved a slight distance away from the track-rail. In other words, as the device is operated one of the switch-rails is covered by my mechanism and the other is uncovered by moving the switch.

I have provided an auxiliary protector which is to be placed between the main-track rail and the switch-rail on each side of the track-rail and the switch-rail on each side of the track comprising the sides 62 and 63. Firmly attached to the side 63 is the top 64. Hi-nged to the side 62 and to its upper portion is the top 65. The top 65 is designed to rest on top of the top 64, so that as the sides are pushed toward each other the top 65 will swing upwardly on its hinge and slide on the top 64. I have also provided the end portions 68 and 69, attached to the side and each end of the auxiliary protector. I have attached the sides 62 and 63 to each other by means of the spring 66. This spring is so arranged as to constantly force the sides away from each other, so that as the auxiliary protector is placed between the track-rail and the switchrail the sides 62 and 63 will be held firmly against the track-rail 12 and the switch-rail 13, and as the switch-rail is moved toward the track-rail the sides 62 and 63 of the auxiliary protector will be moved towardeach other, thus keeping the space between the track-rail and the switch-rail which is not covered by the protector filled up and prevent any dirt or other foreign substance from getting in between the track-rail and the switch-rail. Ihave provided a wedge-shaped block 67, which can be placed at either end of the protector to prevent the flanges 24 and 33 from being jammed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-rail, a cover mounted near the switch-rail designed tobe over the switch-rail in one position and at one side of the switch-rail in its other position, a rod attached to said cover and extending longitudinally of it, means for rotatably mounting the rod at one end, a slotted guide for the'other end of said rod, means for moving said switchrail and said cover, for the purposes stated.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-rail, a cover mounted near said switch-rail which is over the switchrail in one position, and at the side of the switch-rail in its other position, a rod for supporting said cover, an arm attached to the under side of said cover, a' slotted guide for said arm, a slotted guide for one end of said rod, a switching device attached to said switch-rail and to said rod, for the purposes stated.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of main-track rails, two switchrails, connecting-pieces between said switchrails, two covers between the switch-rails,

each cover being designed to cover a point of the switch-rail adjacent toit when said switchrail is out of engagement with the main-track rail and to be inside of said switch-rail when the switch-rail is against the track-rail, and means for moving said switch-rails and said covers, for the purposes stated.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-rail, a cover mounted near said switch-rail which is over the switchrail in one position and at one side of the switch-rail in its other position, a rod for supporting said cover, a series of arms attached to the under side of said cover, slotted guides for said arms, a slotted guide for one end of said rod, and a switching device attached to said switch-rail and said rod, for the purposes stated. i

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-rail, a cover mounted near said switch-rail which is over the switchrail in one position and at one side of the switch-rail in its other position, a rod for supporting said cover, a series of arms attached to the under side of said cover, slotted guides for said arms, a slotted guide for one end of said rod, and a switching device attached to said switch-rail and said rod, and a second cover designed to overlap the first-mentioned cover, for the purposes stated.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a switch-rail, a cover mounted near said switch-rail which is over the switchrail in one position and at one side of the switch-rail in its other position, a rod for supporting said cover, a series of arms attached to the under side of said covers, slotted guides for said arms, a slotted guide for one end of saidrod, and a switching device attached to said switch-rail and said rod, a second cover designed to overlap the first-mentioned cover and means for holding the second cover in place relative to the first cover, for the purposes stated.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movable switch-rail, a movable cover mounted near said track-rail, said cover being designed to' be over the switchrail in one position and at the side of the switch-rail in its other position, means for operating said cover, a second cover to rest againstthe switch-rail in one position and cover the first-mentioned cover and in its other position to overlap the first-mentioned cover, for the purposes stated.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a main-track rail, two switchrails, connecting-pieces between said switchrails, two series of covers between the switchrails, one cover of each series of covers being designed to cover the point of the switch-rail adjacent to it when the switch-rail is out of engagement with the main-track rail and to be inside of said switch-rail when the switchrail is against the track-rail, and means for moving said switch-rails and said covers, for the purposes stated.

LOU R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

WILL KIRSHER, W; R. LANE. 

